Haven for Hope offers a place of new beginnings. They coordinate and deliver an efficient system of care for those experiencing homelessness. Not only do they provide the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, but their larger effort, and the foundation on which they stand, provides long-term solutions that address the root causes of homelessness.

In order to address the individual needs of people, Haven for Hope collaborates with more than 140 partner organizations to provide over 300 comprehensive services, such as housing support, income development, employment training, education, counseling, life skills, legal services, childcare, and many other services on a 22 acre campus. Serving more than 1,700 people, including 300 children, every day, clients receive the tools to move from homelessness to self-sufficiency and independent living.

This model focuses on individual growth, and it embodies the homeless continuum for which I strongly advocate. Virtually everything the homeless need is there in one place.  Their contained continuum makes it significantly less likely that people – and the issues that plague them – fall through the cracks. The integrated service model facilitates communication: mental health counselors more easily coordinate with addiction counselors, who then coordinate with employment training coordinators, childcare coordinators, and more – all of whom see the client from different but uniquely helpful perspectives.